An Attitude of Gratitude
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
- 1 Timothy 1:15
Whew! I don't know about you, but I am TIRED! Busy, hectic week of family activities, get-togethers, food preparation, final preparations.....the list goes on and on. Suddenly, it's done, and we begin the long stretch of "quiet" weeks in January and February. I know as a teacher, the end of the holidays meant starting a period of time that to elementary teachers was at least a mixed blessing. Yes, we had a long block of time that was pretty well uninerrupted for quality instruction. Children were really ready to learn, and we could really make some headway. On the negative side of the coin, it frequently meant days or weeks of 'inside recess' when young children could not go outside and run off some energy due to cold temperatures, snow, etc. We were 'trapped' in those rooms for weeks on end with those little people! It didn't always bring out the best in many of us!
There are many things that don't bring out the best in us, huh? Did you see any of those examples as family got together during Christmas celebrations? Anyone short tempered? Rude? Disrespectful? Thoughtless? Irritable? I have to admit I saw a few examples of those types of behavior.......some of them by me. No matter how hard we try we just can't consistently keep that behavior in check. Seems like there's something in the Bible about that......
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
- Romans 7:15
We all have issues we deal with. Certain weaknesses in our personalities that cause us to repeat specific behaviors over and over. New Years reminds us of the many many times we have resolved to change such behaviors again and again.
Isn't it just like God to give us EVERYTHING we need to learn from in this journey we are taking with Him? Just like we do with our children, He watches us as we take baby steps in our faith. He provides us with instructions and examples in the Word that give us hope and guidance.
Even the author of many of our most beloved books in the New Testament, Paul, struggled with these issues. Not only did he pen the verse from Romans above, he also spoke of something he struggled with:
....therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I have been given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7
We are never told what this 'thorn in the flesh' is. It might be an illness, a physical deformity, or a habit or sin he constantly struggles with. I like to think it is the last one. I believe God shows us that Paul , EVEN PAUL, struggled as we do. That although he became one of, if not THE most effective apostle of Christ, he had a dark history and something that continued to plague him. His life was not perfect just because he had a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. Through this example, and so many others in the Bible, God shows us that our struggles are not unlike the struggles other Christians have had. Our pasts are not any worse than those of our examples. Paul murdered Christians for heaven's sake! God loves and meets with all who love His Son, no matter what else we have to deal with. When we're a mess, he cleans up that mess.
For some time I have been fascinated by the book of Romans. Penned by Paul, the letter was to let Roman Christians know he was on his way to Rome. He was not really sure he would get out of Jerusalem alive, so just in case he wrote this letter as a written explanation of the Gospel so Christ followers would have it. Many believe this book to be the most important in the New Testment. The English poet Coleridge called it, "The most profound work in existance." Martin Luther said Romans was, ..."the very purest gospel....it can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes." And finally, Dr. H.L. Wilmington of Liberty University said, " If all the works of the Bible were lost but Romans, we'd still have the fundamental doctrine." Hmmmm.....
I first became really interested in Romans when I started a study of Romans 12 by Chip Ingram. If you are not familiar with Chip's work, you should become aquainted with it. He is a pastor in California, and his ministry is called 'Living on the Edge'. He has written many Bible studies, and is a practical, easily understood teacher. We were unable to finish the study of Romans 12 as a group, but this started a fascination for me with the entire book. I have studied Romans quite a bit since then, and feel led to use Romans as the text for posts in Journey for a while. I hope as we begin 2014 you will commit to reading Romans and ask God to use it to further your growth in relationship with Him.
I am so grateful to God for providing examples like Paul and writings like Romans to give us such a clear picture of what our lives can be in Him. He has given us a clear path, but there is no way we can follow that path without studying the map. If you have never really 'dug into' Romans, I think you will be amazed at all God teaches us there. Let's start 2014 with grateful hearts and willing spirits to allow God to teach us through his Word.
There are many things that don't bring out the best in us, huh? Did you see any of those examples as family got together during Christmas celebrations? Anyone short tempered? Rude? Disrespectful? Thoughtless? Irritable? I have to admit I saw a few examples of those types of behavior.......some of them by me. No matter how hard we try we just can't consistently keep that behavior in check. Seems like there's something in the Bible about that......
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
- Romans 7:15
We all have issues we deal with. Certain weaknesses in our personalities that cause us to repeat specific behaviors over and over. New Years reminds us of the many many times we have resolved to change such behaviors again and again.
Isn't it just like God to give us EVERYTHING we need to learn from in this journey we are taking with Him? Just like we do with our children, He watches us as we take baby steps in our faith. He provides us with instructions and examples in the Word that give us hope and guidance.
Even the author of many of our most beloved books in the New Testament, Paul, struggled with these issues. Not only did he pen the verse from Romans above, he also spoke of something he struggled with:
....therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I have been given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7
We are never told what this 'thorn in the flesh' is. It might be an illness, a physical deformity, or a habit or sin he constantly struggles with. I like to think it is the last one. I believe God shows us that Paul , EVEN PAUL, struggled as we do. That although he became one of, if not THE most effective apostle of Christ, he had a dark history and something that continued to plague him. His life was not perfect just because he had a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. Through this example, and so many others in the Bible, God shows us that our struggles are not unlike the struggles other Christians have had. Our pasts are not any worse than those of our examples. Paul murdered Christians for heaven's sake! God loves and meets with all who love His Son, no matter what else we have to deal with. When we're a mess, he cleans up that mess.
For some time I have been fascinated by the book of Romans. Penned by Paul, the letter was to let Roman Christians know he was on his way to Rome. He was not really sure he would get out of Jerusalem alive, so just in case he wrote this letter as a written explanation of the Gospel so Christ followers would have it. Many believe this book to be the most important in the New Testment. The English poet Coleridge called it, "The most profound work in existance." Martin Luther said Romans was, ..."the very purest gospel....it can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes." And finally, Dr. H.L. Wilmington of Liberty University said, " If all the works of the Bible were lost but Romans, we'd still have the fundamental doctrine." Hmmmm.....
I first became really interested in Romans when I started a study of Romans 12 by Chip Ingram. If you are not familiar with Chip's work, you should become aquainted with it. He is a pastor in California, and his ministry is called 'Living on the Edge'. He has written many Bible studies, and is a practical, easily understood teacher. We were unable to finish the study of Romans 12 as a group, but this started a fascination for me with the entire book. I have studied Romans quite a bit since then, and feel led to use Romans as the text for posts in Journey for a while. I hope as we begin 2014 you will commit to reading Romans and ask God to use it to further your growth in relationship with Him.
I am so grateful to God for providing examples like Paul and writings like Romans to give us such a clear picture of what our lives can be in Him. He has given us a clear path, but there is no way we can follow that path without studying the map. If you have never really 'dug into' Romans, I think you will be amazed at all God teaches us there. Let's start 2014 with grateful hearts and willing spirits to allow God to teach us through his Word.
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